Launched in 2024 with the support of the City of Boston Youth Development Fund, the ResilArt program is a transformative initiative that confronts mental health stigmatization within the African immigrant and refugee community by harnessing the power of the arts. Rooted in cultural psychology and community-based healing, ResilArt empowers youth to explore their identities, express their lived experiences, and build resilience through performing and visual arts. By offering a safe, affirming space for storytelling, movement, music, and visual expression, ResilArt helps participants process trauma, combat isolation, and reimagine their future.
Through this creative engagement, youth are not only able to confront challenges but also cultivate pride in their cultural heritage, foster cross-cultural understanding, and emerge as changemakers within their communities. At its heart, ResilArt is more than a program—it is a movement toward healing, empowerment, and inclusion, led by and for African immigrant youth in Boston.